40 - Phillip
The weather was a peaceoffering for May only dipping to sixty degrees overnight. The door to the balcony had been left open at Samantha’s request, wanting to relish the cool breeze at night and hear the birds in the morning. Lately, she moves extra slow in the mornings and often wakes up sore. Having the door open is like being on the balcony even if not really.
Roxy let me sleep upstairs with Samantha. Not that I haven’t before, but usually when I have, it had been because I snuck into her room. I would set an alarm to go back home so I was never caught. Or so we thought. Roxy gave me a look when she told me to just stay, seeing how much I was worried for Samantha. It was all-knowing, and telling, but it wasn’t followed up with any lectures. Only a smile. A smile that was a mixture of fondness, wistfulness to be young again, and admiration for the boy that loves her granddaughter. My parents never gave me the third degree either. I haven’t asked but I think Roxy may have had a talk with them. With Samantha’s condition these days, I think the unspoken law is whatever makes her comfortable goes.
I’m indebted to Roxy for letting me stay. I couldn’t have left last night if I tried. Something aches inside me, and it tears at my soul to see my girlfriend in this condition. But I love her, and I’ll stay at her side through everything, no matter what comes.
This morning though, I have other plans. Standing at the balcony door, I take one last glance outside, then turn and gaze down at Samantha. She is still asleep and beautiful as ever, despite the dark circles beneath her eyes and lines of fatigue that recently settled into her features.
I cover her with another blanket to make up for my absence in her bed and then go downstairs.
“Hey, kiddo.” Roxy smiles and hands me a cup of coffee. “How’d she do?”
“She’s still sleeping.” I run my fingers through my hair, sipping from the hot mug before setting it down on the counter. “Not as restless as when she napped yesterday, so that’s good.”
She smiles again, though it doesn’t entirely reach her eyes. “Well, sounds like she’s resting better since you were here anyhow. How’re you holding up?”
A shy grin cracks my lips. “I’ll be better when she’s better, but I’m good.”
Roxy nods, understanding the weight of that statement. “Well, I’m off to the shop. Gotta handle payroll and some other items. Call me if anything...”
I know what she’s handling. “You’re on speed dial.”
Just then, there’s a soft knock on the door. Before Roxy can get to it, Cyn pokes her head in and looks around, Knox behind her. “Hey Rox.”
“Ready?”
“Yeah.” Cynthia turns to give Knox a kiss, a small wave to me and then leaves with Roxy to help clean the shop as previously arranged.
After they leave, Knox and I both take a deep breath. I fiddle with an item on the side table before picking it up and gesturing for Knox to follow me toward the kitchen.
“What do you have there, bud?” Knox asks, pointing to the device in my hand.
“It’s a monitor. You want coffee?”
“Nah, had an energy drink on the way here.” He scratches his head. “So, how’s your girl?”
I slump onto a stool at the island and set the monitor on the counter in front of us. “Not good, buddy.”
Knox clamps me on the shoulder. “Not sure how you’re doing it. If it were your sister...” His lips formed a thin line instead of finishing his sentence before he coughs and withdraws his hand. “So, what do you need me to do?”
I take a drink of coffee again, thinking. I’d been contemplating what to say all morning, but I did ask him over and am going to explain why.
“I need you to be ready for anything.” I meet my friend’s eyes and let it all show. With one look, anyone paying enough attention would be able to see my emotions. “Samantha’s a ticking time bomb right now and if shit goes south, you need to man-up and take care of my sister.”
Knox’s expression drops. “Dude, is she not gonna make it?”
“I don’t know.” The weight of that admission hangs in the air. I squeeze the mug and sit back, my jaw clenching. “I’m serious. Take care of my sister. She lost her shit when we lost our brother and Samantha means no less to her than he did. If my sister breaks, I can’t handle more than Samantha right now.”
He nods his head sharply. “Got it.” Knox folds his arms across his expansive chest. “Who’s going to take care of you?”
“That’s an inside job. I’m not nominating anybody for that. If I lose Samantha, I don’t think there’s anything anyone can do.”
“That’s some dark shit, dude.”
“It’s my now. And I’m serious. There’d be no returning from the dark side if that goes down.” I look directly at Knox and he just nods, accepting the truth of the matter.
“I get it.” He clamps me on the shoulder again. My muscles tense but I nod back when there’s a small noise on the monitor. We both freeze.
I listen and then breathe again a moment later. “She’s still sleeping.” I can tell by the sound, she was just adjusting, settling back to sleep. I know what all her noises mean by heart.
My heart cracks with that last thought as I cough and get up to put my mug in the sink. “I’ve never said it, but I’m glad my sister has you.”
“You’re spooking me. Getting all sentimental and shit.”
“Yeah, well,” I shrug my shoulder. “What are you doing after high school?”
“I’m getting into pole dancing.”
I laugh unexpectedly, something I didn’t think I was capable of today. “Pole dancing, really?”
“Yeah. My old man’s a fire fighter, ya know. I’m signed up for classes and gonna join the firehouse. Football’s cool and all but there’s such an adrenaline rush when running into a fire and helping somebody. More than the football field can offer, I tell ya.”
“I’m glad you got it figured out.”
“What about you?” Knox looks down at the monitor, but the lights are calm, and no noise is coming from it.
“One day at a time for now.” I check my phone. When I see Knox watching, I explain. “Waiting on a call anytime for news of a match. Until that happens—”
“Is there anything I can do? Seriously.”
“Yeah, later I need you to drop this envelope off to Mr. Shutter. It’s Samantha’s Yearbook pictures, some hardcopies, and a memory stick with her digital prints. Any other day she’d be worried about pulling her weight, but she hasn’t even mentioned it. I know she’ll want her contribution turned in.”
“Consider it done.”
“Thanks.”
“Anything else?”
“Yeah, listen to her while I grab a shower. If she makes one noise, get me. I’ll be quick.”
And just like a changing of the guards, we keep watch over Samantha, feeling like the eleventh hour is slipping away.